Montclair, NJ – Both Montclair State and The College of New Jersey both entered Saturday's NJAC men's soccer contest looking to get a leg up toward a berth in the conference tournament in two weeks.

When the night ended each teams was exactly in the same position they started in as the Red Hawks (11-4-1) and Lions (7-6-2) played to a 1-1 draw. Each team is now 3-3-1 in league play and are tied for fifth place in the standings. MSU and TCNJ are two points in front of Ramapo and Stockton and two points behind Kean with two matches left.

TCNJ's Mateo Panizza gave the Lions a 1-0 lead late in the first half with his sixth goal of the season. The Red Hawks tried to clear the ball on the right side of the box. But the attempt bounced the other way across to the left side to a wide open Panizza, who took two touches before firing a shot inside the right post.

Leading by a goal the Lions nearly got a second early in the second as Sam Monaco headed a shot in the 54^th minute that hit the post. The teams traded solid opportunities into the final 15 minutes when Montclair appeared to tie the game with 13:07 left. DAMIAN BZIUKIEWICZ served a ball from along the left sideline deep into the box where LUCAS TERCI flicked a head into the net. But Terci was a second early and was called for offsides.

MSU nearly got the equalizer with 5:11 left as STEVEN ZAMUDIO knocked a shot from the left side that appeared headed into the far right side. However, Peter Dresch was there on the line and headed the attempt away.
After knocking on the door, Montclair State finally broke through. Bziukiewicz sent a ball from the left side into the near end of the penalty area. MIKE OLLA ran on to the cross and flipped a shot in the goal for his seventh of the season and the 1-1 tie.

In the first OT, TCNJ's Dan Walsh saved a Bziukiewicz attempt 3:24 in and TAYLOR CULP denied Panizza less than a minute later. Olla nearly ended the game in the 97^th minute as his shot from the right post nearly went in but defender Seth Ethridge headed that dangerous shot away.

Olla got two chances to end the game in the second extra sessions however Walsh posted saves each time.

Walsh and Culp each finished with five saves.  Montclair outshot the Lions 23-16, including 11-2 in the overtime periods. MSU also took nine of the 10 corner kicks.

The Red Hawks are back in action on Tuesday, October 18 with a non-conference contest. MSU hosts Alfred University at MSU Soccer Park beginning at 6:00 pm.